Packing-case.



PATENTED APR. 2, 1907( 8 llllllulllllulillllllw% fl W. P. FITZGERALD.

PACKING CASE APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18,1906.

To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

WILLIAM P. FITZGERALD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CROUCH & FITZGERALD, A CORPORATION OF NEW' YORK.

PACK] NG-CASE Specification of Letters Patent.-

L-"a.tenteo April 2, 1907.

Application filed $eptemher 18, 1906. Serial No. 335,114.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. FITZGER- ALD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing-Cases, of which the follow ing is a specification This invention relates to packingvcases, and more particularly to such cases as are employed by traveling men .to transport samples of china or crockery ware and plates of various standard sizes In particular.

An object of the invention is to provide a case comprising one or more packing-come partments provided with means whereby the compartment maybe adapted to contain and retain articles of one size or another at will, preferably one of various standard sizes. To this end one or more walls of the compartment is or are provided with removable and replaceable means whereby the packing-space within said compartment may be varied.

In a preferred form of the invention the means for varying the packing-space within the compartment has for its embodiment a slide provided with two spacing members of separate selected dimensions, each secured to said slide. Said slide is reversibly and removably secured to a wall of said compartment, so that upon reversal a change in the location of the spacing members relative to the wall of the compartment takes place, resulting in a change in the packing-space within said compartment.

Further objects of this invention are to provide packing-compartments with suitable pads for protecting fragile articles to be contained therein and to provide one of more removable and replaceable pads for the comipartment, so that these pads may be employed'to vary the packing-space within the compartment and also to be renewed at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a complete traveling-case or sampletrunk containing one or. more suitably-proportioned trays divided into compartments and in which the various compartments are provided with removable and renewable spacing members which are preferably interchangeable, so as to vary the packing-space within the various compartments. It is also desired that such means may be employed outer receptacle.

.in section and partly in elevation, of two trays such as that illustrated in Fig. 1, one superimposed on the other and inclosed in an The top tray is shown in section through line 2 2 of Fig. 1

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a box like packingcompartment whiclris regular in horizontal section and, as shown, issquare, comprising a bottom wall 2 and vertical walls 3, 4, 5, and 6. The bottom wall -2 is preferably provided with a pad 7, as illustrated. Each of the vertical walls 3, 4, 5, and 6 is also illustrated as provided with a pad. Pads 8 and 9 extend, respectively, vertically along the middle portions of the walls and 6. They are illustrated as fixed upon said walls, all of which walls are preferably of a substantial nature, so as to withstand strains due to traveling. I

10, 11, 12, and .13 designate removable and replaceable pads which are similar to pads 18 and 9, described; The pads 10 and 11 are both secured to a removable and reversible slide 14-, which is secured to a wall 4 by guides 15 and 16. Pads 12 and 13 are shown mounted on a removable and reversible slide 17, secured to wall 3 b guides 16 and 18 These slides may be pu led out and replaced like a shutter or lantern-slide.

It is preferred that the members 10, 11, and 14 be identical in size and arrangement with the members 12, 13, and 17.. This feature has advantages in manufacturing and.

13extend approximately equal distances.

from the walls 5, 6, 4, and 3, extending vertically a proximately along the middleof the sides, caving just sufficient space therebetween to pack a tier of lates 19, as illustrated. Each plate snug y engagesthe pads described, which act as spacing members, and it is also preferred to insert a piece of soft fabric between the plates to prevent grinding and mutual breakage. The top plate of the tier-should also be provided with some soft pad tofill up the remaining vertical space in the compartment above the tier of plates.

It is obvious that pads or spacing members, such as 1 1 and 13 may be made with various selected dimensions, so that their application to the walls 4 and 3 will vary the packing space within the compartment 1 at will. Furthermore, the two pairs, of pads or spacing members 10 11 and 12 13 may each be removed and replaced in reverse positions, so that 10 takes the place of 11, 11 the place of 10, and so that 12 takes the place of 13 and 13 the place of 12. Such an arrangement is shown in compartment 20, in which comp artment members 21 and 22 are duplicates of members 8 and 9 of the adjacent compartment 1 and members 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28,

29, 30, and 31 are duplicates of the members 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, associated with compartment 1.

32 designates a tier of plates of smaller size than those in tier 19 and which are snugly contained in compartment 20, the same as tier 19 is contained in compartment 1. 33 designates a bottom pad for compartment 20, similar to bottom pad 7 of compartment 1. The pads illustrated comprise a stuffing of resilient material retained by an upholstering. However, they may be fashioned as desired and of any suitable materials appli:

cable to their particular use.

Obviously, if desired, but one of the slides 14 and 17 might bereversed should it be do: sired to retain articles within compartment 1 of such irregular outline that a picking-space of the contour so provided were to be needed.

34 and 35 designate two other compartments, similar to compartments 1 and 20, described, but provided with spacing members of ditl'erent dimensions from those illustrated in connection with compartments 1 and 20. The spacing members 36, 37, 38, and 3}.) of compartment 34 occupy reverse positions from the similar spacing members 40, 11, 42, and 43 of compartment 35. The fixed pads 44 and 45 are preferably identical .with the pads 41 andl and likewise the pads 46 and 47 are prel'erably idemieal with pads 37 and 3 8.

The four compartments 1, 2U. 34-. and 35 are shown comprised in a tray 49 and obvi. ously need not be restricted to [our in number, as shown.

50 designates a second tray, similar to 49, which may be provided with the same or other proviions for 'illt reception of articles to be paclced therein. The two trays 49 and 50 are shown in superposition and contained in an outer receptacle 5], which preferably comprises a remm able lid 52. This outer trunk or chest. The lid 52 serves as a closure for the top tray, while. each superposed tray serves as a closure for the tray next beneath the same, as shown in Fig. 2. The number of trays provided may be varied at will; but two is the preferred number, as shown.

Although the tray 49 is illustrated as square and divided by two parl itioning-walls 5 and 6 into four square compartments. it is obvious that the contour ol" the trayas well as that of the compartments may be varied and still be provided with the feat urcs ol' this invention. Furthermore. it should be noted that in some instances it may be desirable that the removable and replaceable spacing members be of a selected size for each compartment. possibly dillerent from the size for each other compartment.

Buffer-strips, as indicated by 53, may be applied to the sides of the trays to protect the finish of the trays against rubbing contact with the walls of (.llO- receptacle 51.

Although the spacing members referred tonamely, 8, E), 11, 12, and lii are illus trated,in the form of pads to protect from breakage fragile articles, such as crockery, it

is contemplated that in some instances it may be desired to pack other than fragile articles, merely so as to avoid undue movement of said articles during transportation. In such a case the spacing members neednot be pads, but merely strips of any suitable material to serve'no other purpose than to determine the packing-space.

The variation or adjustability of the packing-space withina compariment may obvi ouslv be accomplished by means of various combinations of the spacing members illustrated or by means of modified spacing means which will suitably provide for adj ustment.

Further changes of detail and arrangement are obviously within the scope of the appended claims.

hat is claimed. and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A traveling-case, comprising a packingcompartmem provided with substantial Walls; means l'or varying the packing-space within said compartment comprising one or more spacing members of selected dimensions each removably securable to one or more of the walls of said eomparuncnt.

2. A traveling-case, comprising a pa hingcompartment provided \Vllll substantial walls; means for varying the paclcing-spiu-e within said compartment comprising one or more spacing members of selected dimensions each fixed to an interchangeable slide which is removably securable to one or more of the walls of said compartment. r

3. A traveling-case, comprising a pacl ing compartment provided with substantial receptacle 51 may be any approved type oi i walls; means for 'arying the packing-space ing a set of spacing members of selected. dimensions. said members being mounted side by side on a single reversible slide; means for removably securing said slide to a wall of a compartment so that the'location of the, spacing members relativeto the compartment will be altered when said slide is reversed, end for end.

5. In a packing-compartment provided with substantial walls; self-contained means comprising spacing members of selected dimensions reversibly secured to one or more walls of said compartment and capable of varying the packing-space within said compartment.

6. In a packing-compartment for fragile articles and provided with substantial walls; a plurality of walls provided'with fixed pads; one or more additional walls provided with means for removably securing pads of selected dimensions so that the packing-space within said compartment may be varied to conform to the articles contained therein.

7. In a packing-compartment provided with four substantial Walls substantially at right angles one with another; similar means in combination with each of two adjacent walls for varying the packingspace within the compartment, said means comprising a plurality of spacing members fixed side by side to a removable and reversible slide.

8. A travelingcase comprising one or more trays divided by walls into compartments; one or more of said compartments being provided with means for varying the acl ing-spacc within the compartments, said means comprising a plurality of spacing members of different dimensions respectively and mounted on a reversible slide removably secured one to each of one or more walls of the compartment.

9. In a traveling-case, a tray divided by partitions into compartments of uniform dimensions and provided with substantial walls; means for changing the packingspaee in one compartment from one to the other of two selected sizes; means for changing the packing-space in a second compartment from one to the other of two independent selected sizes; said means comprising one or more sets of spacing members for each compartment, each set being mounted on a reversible slide removabl y securable to a wall of the compartment.

10. In a traveling-case, one or more trays dividedby walls each into a plurality of comsizes for one compartment being independent of the selected sizes for the other compartments; said means comprising one or more sets of spacing members for each compartment, each set being mounted 011 a reversible slide removably securable to a wall of the compartment.

11. In a packing-case for fragile articles of various standard sizes, a tray comprising separate compartments accessible from above; a compartment provided with a pad at the bottom and a pluralityof Wall-pads of selected dimensions; one or more of said wall-pads being removable and replaceable so as to vary the packing-space within said compartment from one standard size to another.

12. In a packing-case for fragile articles of various standard slzes, a tray comprising separate compartments accessible from above; a compartment provided with a pad at the bottom and a plurality of wall-pads of selected dimensions; one or more of said wall-pads being removable and replaceable so as to vary the packing-space within said compartment from one standard size to another; and guiding and securing means in combination with one or more walls of said compartment for said removable and replaceable pads.

13. In a packing-case for plates, a com partment provided with fiat vertical walls and a horizontal bottom wall; a centrally-located vertical pad for each vertical wall, one or more of said pads being of selected dimensions and removable and replaceable so as to vary the packing-space within said compartment.

14. In a packing-case for plates, a box-like compartment regular in horizontal outline and open at the top; a centrally-located vertical pad for each of a plurality of the vertical walls of said compartment a pair of pads for each of the remaining vertical walls of said compartment, said pair of pads being re: spectively of two separate selected sizes; said pair of pads being mounted on a removable and reversible slide socurable to a wall of said compartment so that one of said pads will be centrally located relative to said wall and the reversal of said slide will cause said pads to vary the packing-space within saidcompartment. i 15.. In apacking -case for plates, an exterior receptacle provided with a lid and containing one or more trays, each comprising a box-like compartment regular in horizontal outline and open at the top a centrally-located vertical pad for each of a plurality of ICC the vertical Walls of said compartment; a pair of pads for each of the remaining vertical walls of said compartment, said pair of pads being respectively of two separate selected sizes; said pair of pads being mounted on a removable and reversible slide securable to a Wall of said compartment so that one of said pads will be centrally located relative to said wall and the reversal of said slide will cause said pads to vary the packing-space within said compartment.

16. In a packing-case, a box-like compart ment open at the top and provided with vertical walls; vertical guides secured to one or more walls of said compartment; a reversible slide removably secured to a wall by said guides; a pair of vertically-extending spacing members secured to saidslide; said pair of spacing members being respectively of different selected dimensions so that the reversal of said slide will alter the packing-space within said compartment.

17. In a packing-case, a box-like compartment open at the to and provided with vertical walls and regular in horizontal outline; vertical guides secured to one or more wallsof said compartment; a reversible slide removably secured to a wall by said guides; a pair of vertically-extending spacing members secured to said slide so that one 01 said spacing members is centrally located relatively to said wall, said pair of spacing members being respectively of difierent selected dimensions so that the reversal of said slide will alter the packing-space within said com- 5 partment.

18. In a packing-case, a tray comprising a packing-compartment having substantial Walls a wall of said compartment being provided with a pad for engaging the articles to be packed therein; and means associated with a wall of said compartment for varying the packing-space within said compartment, said means comprising an adjustable spacing member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM P. FITZGERALD.

Witnesses:

IDA G. GILMORE, LEONARD DAY. 

